3,000 more Kashmiri Pandits to get jobs

Another 3,000 Kashmiri Pandits will be provided jobs to facilitate their early return to the Valley, where nearly 2,000 such migrant youth are already working, the government said on Saturday.

"The state government is committed to facilitate an early return of migrant Pandits to the valley with dignity and honour," Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Syed Basharat Bukhari said during question hour in the legislative council on Saturday.

"As a confidence building measure, 3,000 supernumerary posts were created and as of now and 1,963 migrant youth have been selected for serving in different departments in the valley," Bukhari said.

The minister said that 505 transit accommodations have been allotted to these migrant employees presently on sharing basis.

"Process for creation of remaining 3,000 posts under the Prime Minister's package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants with the central government funding has been initiated by the state government," Bukhari said.

Furthermore, many steps have been taken to bridge trust deficit and stepping up good will between communities in the state, the minister said.

At least 40,000 Kashmiri Pandit families migrated to Jammu province and outside after separatist insurgency erupted in the state in 1990s.

The state government said that many welfare schemes have been initiated for Kashmiri Pandits living in migrant camps.

Five medical centres are functional in various camps with free medicines, and four ambulances are also provided there. One forty bedded hospital is to be made shortly in Jagti camp. Five schools with four 10+2 level and one middle school are functional, the government said.

Additionally number of seats are reserved for Kashmiri migrants in professional colleges, said the government.

Nearly 3,500 Pandits still live in Kashmir, who did not migrate from the valley even after turmoil here.